Pubdate: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 Source: Globe and Mail (Canada) Copyright: 2009 The Globe and Mail Company Contact: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168 Author: Ian Bailey Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada) B.C. calls on Ottawa to tighten drug laws Only federal government can make it illegal to possess chemicals used to make drugs, Solicitor-General says B.C.'s Solicitor-General is challenging the federal Conservative government to do more to "close the loopholes" that allow criminals to produce such destructive synthetic drugs as ecstasy and crystal meth. Kash Heed urged Ottawa Tuesday to crack down on access to the chemicals used to manufacture such drugs, saying only the federal government can engineer the sweeping legislation required to make it illegal to possess them. "What [B.C.] can do within our powers, we're doing," he told reporters at a news conference where the RCMP announced the outcome of an 18-month investigation that saw the arrests of nine people importing ingredients - two of them linked to Asian organized crime. "What we cannot do is close the loopholes that allow criminals to bring in precursor materials that could be turned into ecstasy, known as MDMA, and other drugs that are allowing criminals to prosper while our citizens suffer," said Mr. Heed, reading from a prepared statement. "We need Ottawa to do that. We need Ottawa to have tougher controls and tighter regulations on precursors in Canada." During the news conference, police displayed two shotguns and four rifles, thousands of dollars in cash - a total of $250,000 was seized in the investigation - and compounds used to produce illegal synthetic drugs. The RCMP are recommending various charges against the suspects - two women and seven men - who have yet to be identified. Superintendent Brian Cantera, officer in charge of the federal Drug Enforcement Branch, offered some support to the minister, the former West Vancouver police chief. "Additional regulations on precursor chemicals and equipment utilized to manufacture synthetic drugs would give police the tools we need to keep these highly addictive and destructive drugs off our streets," Supt. Cantera said. Mr. Heed saluted the work of the Mounties on the file. "What I am not satisfied with is the fact that these precursors are still available through these loopholes and criminal organizations exploit those loopholes and, as a result, set up shop here in British Columbia," he said. The minister said his government has written to the federal ministers of Health, Justice and Public Safety on the matter, but that additional lobbying is required. "We will be more vocal about what we need them to do to assist us to destroy these networks," he said. Mr. Heed outlined a number of necessary steps, including regulations that allow for a quick response to changes in drug crime. "We don't have two, three, five or even 10 years to wait. While we review and examine, criminal gangs are importing, manufacturing and selling millions of dollars worth of drugs that enslave people, destroy families and ruin our communities," he said. There was no response by press time from the regional office for federal ministers in B.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom